Nothing to do with wargaming this one, but following on from my previous post re the house I was born in my research tells me that by 1962 - then aged 3 - I was living with my parents on the third floor of Cromwell Buildings, Southwark London. Built in 1864 this was an early example of Social Low Cost Housing in London. Strange to think these were built 20+ years before Jack the Ripper stalked the streets of the East End of the city across the River.
Still look the same today and you can see them if you pass on the train between Waterloo East and Charing Cross ( You can see the railway bridge in the third photo). My abiding memory is of the stench of vegetables from Borough Market a stones throw away!
I hope that some find this of interest?
Cool!
ReplyDeleteNot bad are they Ray? Bit noisy with the trains passing though :)
DeleteLow cost social housing? Looks pretty good to me. Nice to know your roots eh.
ReplyDeleteCould do with more of it now JBM! I'm told it's still Social Housing today, which is great. Built in 1864 and even had indoor toilets in a rear extension to each flat!
DeleteI have lived in this block for the past 8 years. It’s surprisingly quiet once you are inside, the sound of the railway is actually quite relaxing, a sort of background noise. Lovely view from the communal roof terrace, & a few films have been filmed in the block too, including Harry Potter, & most recently Practical Magic 2 with Sandra Bullock :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this comment, it is great to hear from a present day resident. Although I was aged 4 in 1962 when living there according to the Census I do have memories of the roof terrace and the trains passing by including steam back then! Oddly enough one of my strongest memories is of Borough Market and the heavy smell of vegetables in the mornings. The Census did tell me which flat number we were in but I'd have to look it up again.
DeleteCheers,
Lee